Athletic Field Proposal at Saint Edward State Park

St. Edward State Park is approximately 316 acres in size and the 3.5-acre existing ballfield is approximately 1% of the park area. The existing ballfield has been used for active recreation and informal play for more than 80 years and historical aerial photographs show two ballfields. The current condition of the ballfields is poor and local Kenmore youth sports organizations no longer schedule use of the fields. The fields are currently used for informal recreation, cricket practice, and games. Renovation of the existing ballfields benefits the public by enhancing recreation opportunities within St. Edward State Park for active sports such as youth baseball, youth soccer, and cricket. Providing open public use of the ballfields (e.g. Frisbee or pick-up games) is also important and will be a condition of the lease agreement between the City of Kenmore and the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.

St. Edward Ballfield Renovation Project

The City of Kenmore proposes improvements to the existing grass ballfield area in St. Edward State Park. The existing ballfield (approximately 3.5 acres) is proposed to be renovated to a new public sports field. The City proposes a field designed to accommodate two little league fields, two youth soccer fields, one full-size soccer field, or one full-size cricket field. Construction timing is dependent on the City obtaining: a long-term lease with the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission; required permits; and funding.

Current Status of City Process - Updated 2/13/18

A Critical Area Variance permit application (to vary from wetland buffer requirements) and SEPA application were submitted to the City of Kenmore's Development Services department on 7/28/17. Questions about application status and public comments should be directed to that department at permittech@kenmorewa.gov.

Dates and Milestones

Date

Time

Milestones

7/28/17

Application filed

8/11/17

Letter of Completeness

8/18/17

Notice of Application published & 21 day comment period begins

9/8/17

5:00 PM

Notice of Application comment deadline

9/11/17

SEPA Notice published & 21 day comment period begins

9/25/17

5:00 PM

SEPA Notice comment deadline

10/16/17

Correction Letter Sent to Applicant

2/9/18

Applicant Submitted Correction Response

4/3/18

City of Kenmore Planning and Community Development Department requested an extension of the permit application window until December 31, 2018 to continue permit and SEPA review. The City of Kenmore Development Services Department approved the extension.

5/21-22/18

Kenmore City Council directs staff to proceed with an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to identify and analyze environmental impacts, reasonable alternatives and possible mitigation. The original SEPA and Critical Areas Variance Permit Applications will remain under review pending the outcome of the EIS. City staff is discussing the EIS process and timeline with State Parks.

Status of the Lease Agreement Between the City of Kenmore and Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission

On 1/22/16 a Memorandum of Understanding (Contract 16-C1507) was executed between the City and State Parks to prepare a long-term lease whereby the City improves the ballfields and manages and maintains them. The October 20, 2008, St. Edward State Park Management includes language regarding continuing ballfield use and states that "ballfields as recreation facilities are primarily a local government responsibility; the majority of the financial burden must be borne by local governments and local partners". The management plan, therefore, supports the lease approach and funding by local governments.

The City Attorney and State Park Attorney General are in the process of drafting terms for a 20-year lease between the City of Kenmore and the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. The lease will address rent, permitted use, permitted improvements, maintenance, and operations. On 3/31/16 City staff gave a presentation to the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission on the proposed ballfield improvements. An update was given to the Real Estate Committee on 8/31/16. The Committee also received updates at their 1/26/17 and 5/17/17 meetings.

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission meeting agenda information is available at:

Questions about the lease agreement direct to Rob Karlinsey, City Manager at rkarlinsey@kenmorewa.gov or phone 425-398-8900.

Public Meeting Open House, February 23, 2016, Questions and Comments:

The City of Kenmore hosted a public meeting on Tuesday, February 23, 2016, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at City Hall, 18120 68th Avenue NE, to share information about a City proposal to improve the existing athletic fields at Saint Edward State Park. A formal presentation was given at around 7:20 p.m., with opportunities for questions and comments both before and after the presentation. See below for the comments and presentation from the open house:

What environmental reviews will be done before approval/denial of the proposal regarding environmental impacts of lighting, runoff, noise, increased traffic on natural environment of St. Edward Park and park users?

Response: A State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review will be completed before a lease is executed between the City and the State Park Commission and before permits are issued authorizing construction. SEPA provides a way to understand how a proposal may affect the environment (including lighting, surface water runoff, noise, and traffic), identify possible environmental impacts and ways to reduce likely impacts or provide conditions that mitigate likely impacts.

What are the resource implications of the proposed development for St. Edward State Park? Extra staffing needs? Extra hours? Extra maintenance? Extra enforcements? Who will pay for this and how?

Response: The City is working with State Park staff on conditions for a long-term lease that would outline the responsibilities for maintaining, operating, scheduling and enforcement. Whether additional City or State Park resources will be needed is to be determined.

Response: There are approximately 200 existing parking stalls available for park users who hold a Discover Pass. The City is not proposing to eliminate any existing parking stalls. The City and State Parks have not determined whether additional parking is required for the athletic field renovation. The City is exploring paving and restriping the existing parking area (approximately 20 parking stalls) immediately west of the athletic field and potentially adding four to seven more spaces.

How will the City follow up with making sure the field materials are non-toxic and do not harm children?

Response: The proposed field materials are non-toxic and include synthetic turf with sand infill. Rubber infill is not proposed.

Will there be electronic scoreboards and a PA system?

Response: An electronic scoreboard and PA system are not proposed.

Will restrooms be updated?

Response: There is an existing public restroom just west of the athletic field. A new restroom is not proposed. The City and State Parks may partner on upgrading the existing restroom, if needed, to meet current ADA standards.

Will there be a concession stand?

Response: A concession stand is not proposed.

After the large, old significant trees are removed for ballfields, how long until private enterprise can then develop?

Response: The City is updating the tree survey to show tree locations. Once the tree survey plan is complete then the City can determine if any trees need to be removed. The athletic field renovation is not a private development, it is a public project, a partnership between the City and State Parks.

What demand has been demonstrated that cannot be met in existing fields?

Response: Youth and adult organized athletic groups (baseball, soccer, cricket, lacrosse) who currently use or have used the fields indicate their membership is growing and there is demand for field use in general and in particular for local fields within the Kenmore community. General community support for active recreation including athletic fields has also been documented in several surveys.

Are you exercising exemptions, rezoning, or variances to destroy the natural and/or wetland areas to build this?

Response: St. Edward State Park is zoned “Parks”. The athletic field is an existing use at the park and athletic fields are an allowed park use, so rezoning is not required. The City will be required to comply with the City of Kenmore adopted critical area regulations, and City and other agency permit requirements. The City is updating the 2008 critical area report to include critical area delineations (such as wetlands and streams), assess critical area functions, potential impacts to critical areas from athletic field renovations and a conceptual mitigation plan. The critical area report will address compliance with variance or exemption criteria if either is needed.

What means did you use to “populate” this meeting with children wearing sports garb despite the cold temperatures?

Response: The meeting was open to all members of the community, and everyone was encouraged to attend and provide comment.

Response: All questions and comments at the meeting were encouraged. The footprint of the ballfield renovations is expected to be within the existing mowed area of the athletic field. Confirmation of the exact footprint can be determined once the updated survey drawing is complete.

What is the lease fee that would be paid to State Parks?

Response: The lease conditions have not been determined, including whether a lease fee is required.

What is the service life for this surface?

Response: Depending on the level of use, the artificial turf layer may need to be replaced every 10 years.

How long until we can play ball?

Response: There are many factors that could affect the timing for construction of the athletic fields including: Approval of the lease agreement between the City and State Parks; availability of funding, estimated at $2 to $3 million; and the permit process.

Answers to Comment Sheet Questions

What do you like?

Better hydrology than grass – no fertilizers allows for water runoff. No rainouts! Kenmore needs fields. Turf is safest for kids

Not in favor

LED lighting with up lighting to see balls in the air at night, sand infill on the field, covered seating and dugouts, bullpens

The proposal looks great

LED lighting, turf fields, covered bleachers

Turf field – but no rubber, better fields for kids, lights provide even more field time, drainage system, LED lights, year-round use

I appreciate the thorough analysis of the ballfields and their impacts. I strongly support the renovation of the fields and moving forward as quickly as possible. Every season the demand grows and our field resources are not keeping up

What do you NOT like?

The blatant effort to develop a state park for an unnecessary reason

Field (at least one) isn’t (?) sc__ in size to accommodate select baseballs kids at an older age level playing on 70-90’ basepaths

People who clearly don’t understand how much pressure the league is under to acquire field space that is playable at this time of year

Driving to Woodinville/Maltby every Saturday :)

The potential impacts to wetlands but I believe the restoration and mitigation will enhance their function

The development proposed at Saint Edward State Park is simply too much. A hotel, spa, restaurant, and ball fields with hundreds of cars coming to and from the park will forever degrade the state park. Careful research and consideration of the long-term impact on the parkland must be conducted/ given. How might we preserve, use and minimize impact?

Comments Spoken during the Open House:

Need to balance recreation, conservation and preservation. Support the renovation project, it won’t impact the enjoyment of the park, for example, noise impacts minimal as move away from the fields. Possibility to partner with the Environmental Learning Center to combine recreation and education.

City moving too fast and rushing to change PAUE regulations. City needs to do due diligence on environmental issues and drainage at St Edward. Support a grass infield and putting the ballfield on property the city currently owns, working with the school district or building ballfields over the lake.

President of the Northlake Little League. 456 kids signed up for the 2016 season, growing registration over the last four years but fewer fields to play on. Support turf fields and lighting and providing fields in Kenmore.

Coach for youth soccer and a member of Families for Active Parks in Kenmore. Supports the renovation and a balance of active and passive recreation. Value of recreation but also teams build integrity and honesty. Bastyr fields are heavily used every day except Sunday, March to July. Growing need for fields.

Supports the renovation and benefit of reduced traffic as shorter trips to a local field means also fewer trips impacting the system.

Coach of a girls team. Supports the renovation at St Edward and also additional fields at Lakepointe.

Former assistant soccer coach. Concerned about environmental review as St. Edwards is unique, may also trigger NEPA. City should look for other ways to build a ballfield rather than at the state park.

Coach. Supports the renovation. Now time to take action as the ballfield project has been talked about for a long time.

Member of Families for Active Parks in Kenmore. The ballfield is about kids and leaving a legacy. St Eds is an amazing asset for everyone. The renovation is taking languishing fields, existing space, and making it better. Of course, the city will look at traffic and environmental concerns.

Played softball at Bastyr and soccer at St Edward. Support the renovation proposal.

Former coach. Power of sport to create memories and lasting friendships. Concern about environmental impacts but has faith in the City. There is misinformation that wetlands will be destroyed after the project is finished. The project will have stormwater management and it will be a better wetland.

Scheduler for the Little League. There are 45 teams and only 8 fields. Support the renovation.